Grip for fish tape



July 9, 1929.

. R. R. ENTWISTLE ET AL GRIP FOR FISH TAPE Filed Dec. 6: 1927 @NayPatented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAYMOND It. ENTWIS'ILE AND WILLIAM J. GEIST, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

GRIP FOR FISH TAPE.

Application filed December 6, 1927.

This invention has to do with a grip for fish tape, and it is an objectof the invention to provide a devicewhereby a fish tape, that is, a tapeof steel, or the like, used in threading wires through conduits, can beconveniently and effectively engaged in order to draw it through aconduit.

It is customary in making ordinary electrical installations to stringVthe wires through metal conduits or pipes. In practice, the desiredsystem of conduits is in` stalled after which the wires are strungthrough them by means of steel tape, commonly known as fish tape. Thesteel tape is first threaded through the conduit and is drawn outthrough the desired outlet opening with the wire attached to itstrailing end. In practice, difficulty is experienced in obtaining thedesired grip on the steel tape, and it is customary to use pliers inorder to get a grip on the tape. It is obvious, of course, that the useof pliers is more or less unsatisfactory, as it does not provide aconvenient or advantageous grip on the tape and sometimes results ininjury to the tape.

It is an object of this invention to provide a grip for fish tape, suchas is mentioned above, whereby the tape can be engaged at any desiredpoint, giving the operator an advantageous grip on the tape.

It is another object of this invention to provide a. grip of the typementioned which can be advanced or moved along a steel fish tape as thetape is withdrawn and wit-hout disengaging it from the tape. y

It is another ob'ect of this invention to provide a. grip of thecharacter mentioned whichis simple and inexpensive of construc- Ationand which presents a handle that can be conveniently and effectivelygripped by the operator.

The various objects and features of the invention will be best and morefully understood from the following detailed description of theinvention, throughout which description reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a 'top or plan view ofthe grip provided by thisl inventiom,showing it in peaticn cn. a trip-ical steel tape;

Serial No. 238,184.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1, being a. Viewtaken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of the device showing certain parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the device, being a View taken asindicated by line 4 4 on Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form ofconstruction.

The grip provided by this invention is designed primarily to handlesteel fish tape of the type used in fishing wires through conduits, etc.In the drawings, we have disclosed a typical preferred form of theinvent-ion constructed to handle a typical and common form of steel fishtape. The fish tape 10, illustrated in the drawings, is rectangular incross sectional configuration and of about the usual proportioning.

The grip provided by this invention includes, generally, a body 11, slipjaws 12 mounted in the body, springs 13 normally urging thejaws to causethem to grip the tape, a handle 14BL attached to the forward end of thebody, and various other parts, the details and functions of which willbe hereinafter described.

The body 11 has a recess 50 in its lower side to carry the slip jaws 12,the recess being formed so that its side walls 14 are straight andconverge from the forward part of the body to the rear end of the body.In the preferred construction, the recess is formed in the body so thatit extends to the rear end of the body, allowing the slips to projecttherefrom. The convergent side walls14 of the recess are symmetricallydisposed with reference to the central vlongitudinal axis of the device,as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The slip jaws 12 are mounted yin the body to slidably engage the sidewalls 14. The backs 15 of the jaws are finished to slidably engage thewalls 14, while the front faces 16 are'finished to grip the tape 1() andare formed so that they are parallel with the tape, as shown in lig. 3of thedrawings. The slip jaws arie held or guided in the proper' manner'with reference t th 'walls of the body by means ol screws 80, or 'the'like. The ,inner or adjacent edges of the plates 2O are spaced apart andlorin a longitudinal. opening to admit the tapev into the body to be'engaged by the slip jaws 12.

The forward end of thefbody 11 is provided with a slot oropening 31inline with' the opening or space between the plates and sufficientlydeep to allowvproper ,insertion of the tapevlO into place between theslip jaws. The rib 21 on the bottom of the recess is centrally disposedand projects between the jaws to limittheir closing or inward movement.The rib 21 acts vas a stop' which normally holds the slip jaws slightlyopen so that the tape 10 can be readily `inserted between them.

In the preferred construction, the small. or narrow ends ofthe slip jawsmay project slightly from the rear end of the body, and suitableextensions 35 may be provided on vthe projecting ends oit the jaws sothat the jaws can be convenientlyand simultaneously operated against theresistance ol the springs 18. The extensions 35 j may be designed to`project somewhatabove 'the body so that they can be'easily engaged bythe opeirator.V

rI'he springs 13, provided vfor normally urging the slip jaws intooperation, may be helical springs carried on-the stems'l undercompression between the forwardend A51 of vthe recess 5t) and the largeend of the slip jaws.`

The handle 111 is :disposed transversely of the body 11 and is locatedsomewhat aboveV the-body so that it can be conveniently gripped bythe-operator to give the operator an elllective purchase on the tape 10held in the device. A suitableneck or connecting part lO- connects thehandle llluwith the lorward Vend 'olthe body v11 and is shaped tosupport the handle in-the desired position withre terenceto the body.AIn the prelerred construction` the body, neckand handle are formedintegrally, as shown-in Fi 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, making a simple,sti-ong 'construction The handle may be l'orined separately as shown inFig. 5.

In using the grip provided by our invention, it is applied to a fishtape 10 by spreading or releasing the slip jaws to allow the insertionof the tape between the-1n. When the tape is between the jaws, thesprings 13 Voperate to hold the jaws in gripping engagement with thetape and, as the operator pulls on the handle, the jaws are 'furtherwedged into gripping ei'igagement with. the tape. rlhe gripping 'faces1G oi: the jaws, when thus 'forced or set against the tape, are positivein preventii'ig slippage of the device along the tape. It will beapparent,however, that the jaws readily release the tape when theoperator pushes the device in the direction opposite to whichv the tapeis being pulled.

Vlhroughthis releasing operati.on,thede vice can be slid along the tapeas the tape is withdrawn from the conduit, the springs 13 assuring' ane'll'ective grip on the tape whenever the tool is pulled in a directionto withdraw-the tape from the conduit.

Having described only a preferred form of our invention., we do not wish`to limit oiu'selves Vto. the sp'ecilic details set forth, but wish toreserve to ourselvesany changes or fariations that may appeartothose-skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the lollowingclaims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A grip forlish .tape including a body having an. opening to admit thetape, ahandle in connection with the body, and slip jaws mounted in thebody to grip the tape,

the jaws having parts projecting from the.

body through said opening be operated.

2. A grip for fish tape includinga body having a recess in one sideto'rreceivingthe tape, the recess havingfconvergent side walls, slipjawsarranged in the recess slidably engaging 4the side walls, the aws beingoperable to'grip the tape at the recess,.and plates attached to saidside el the body retaining the jaws .in the recess,

Agiip ttor fish tape including a body havinga recess in one side, therecess having convergent sidelwalls, slip aws arranged in the recessengagin the side walls, the jaws heing operable tofgrip the tape, stemson the jaws slidably fitting openings in the body, and plates attachedto. said side ol5 the body retaining the jaws in the recess.

lj A grip for fish tape including a body having a recessin its lowerside and having a ll-.ongitudinal opening to admit the tape into therecess, the recess having convergent side walls, a neck projecting fromthev body, a

handle carried by the neck, slip jaws arwhereby they can ranged Fin therecess in sliding engagement with the side walls,'steins.on the jawsslid- =ably fitting-guide openings in the body,

springs.carried on-tlie stems normally yieldingly holding the aws inoperating position, plates attached to said side ol the body toretainthe jaws in the recess, and parts projecting from the jaws tothe'exterior of the body. i'

5. A grip ofthe character described including a. body having an'openingto mgjw.

the object to be gripped, slip jaws mounted llO in the body to grip theobject, and lateral projections on the jaws projecting beyond the body.

6. A grip for fish tape including a body 5 having an opening to admitthe tape7 a handle in connection with the body, and slip jaws mounted inthe body to grip the tape, the jaws having parts projecting from thebody through said opening whereby they can be operated, said partshaving laterally pro- 10 jeeting portions at the exterior of the body.In Witness that We claim the foregoing We have hereunto subscribed ournames this 18th day of November, 1927.

RAYMOND R. ENTWISTLE. WVILLIAM J. GEIST.

